Yuki's date with the maestros

NEW DELHI: Yuki Bhambri had two options: travel to Moscow and cheer the Indian Davis Cup team or travel to Las Vegas to train with Gil Reyes, the strength and fitness trainer who revived Andre Agassi's career.

The world No. 1 junior opted to train with Reyes at the Gil Reyes Fitness Centre and practise with Fernando Verdasco for two weeks. For a young, developing athlete like Yuki, spending time with Reyes would go a long way in preparing him for the ATP Tour. And the cherry on top was the surprise interaction with his childhood icons, Agassi and Steffi Graf.

"I wasn't guaranteed a spot on the team. As a part of the Adidas Player Development Program, I was offered the chance to train with Reyes for four weeks - two weeks in November and two weeks now. He's such a great motivator and makes you work hard... it all pays off. I could see the changes in my game after spending just two weeks with him," Yuki told TOI from the Nick Bollettieri Academy in Florida.

India's Sania Mirza has also worked with Reyes under the Adidas banner.

Reyes' training regime for Agassi entailed two hours of court practice, followed by two hours of weight training and then to 'Magic Mountain' - a 400-metre hill - for a series of sprints. Reyes employs the same under the Adidas programme, which has helped players like Fernando Verdasco play five-hour long matches like they were on a stroll in the park. "He makes you believe in yourself and pushes you hard. He has built his own machines which are very tennis specific," Yuki said of his two-week stint.

Yuki also got a chance to hit and interact with Verdasco, who attributes his improved fitness to Reyes and renowned coach Darren Cahill, who is also a part of the programme.

But one of the highlights of his Las Vegas journey was definitely hitting with the Agassis. "They are still so fit and train so hard, it's simply unbelievable. I'd met Andre in Macau so he knew me."

"Usually they host the Champions Tour but this time they decided to invite juniors along and it was an awesome experience. It was good match practice playing against the top juniors and the greats. I teamed up with Chang for the doubles and hit with McEnroe a couple of times," Yuki, who won the junior Australian Open in 2009, said.

Yuki not only won the tournament but was also adjudged the best mover on court amongst all juniors but his favourite accomplishment of the week was getting noticed by Edberg, the serve-and-volley king.

"Edberg complimented me on my volleys and said that I was the best out of the players there. Coming from him, that's very high praise." Yuki had another reason to smile on Monday when Mahindra Holidays announced their decision to sponsor him for five years.